Reasoned and/or Indifferent
I’ve been seeking out the philosophy of the well lived. I crave steadiness, purpose, some kind of shelter from the turbulence.
My reasoned choice is as indifferent to the reasoned choice of my neighbour, as to his breath and body. However much we’ve been made for cooperation, the ruling reason in each of us is a master of his own affairs. If this weren’t the case, the evil in someone else could become my harm, and God didn’t mean for someone to control my misfortune.
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 8,56
When I was reflecting on this passage I gravitated to the word reasoned and not indifferent. I expected indifferent, it sounds pleasing, protected.
My understanding is that reasoned is not a substitute for reasonable, it just implies thought. However, I imparted my own idea of measure to reasoned. Idealistically believing that this means thinking clearly before acting.
Behavioural economics is against me here and if I follow this through to my conclusion it ends up feeling distinctly paternal. I.e. if someone was not reasoned in their choice, I am just in acting against them.
This logic fails me. I’m back where I started. Indifference is better. Even if moved to act, it implies impartiality.
